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Next year’s Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship series will include a new class for small displacement production street machines, Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike. This National series will be aimed at Amateur racers, aged 15 and above, aboard lightly modified OEM models, motorcycles and equipment approved by the CSBK Series.

The new category will use rules based on existing CSBK standards utilizing minimum weights and maximum power outputs, as measured on the official series Dynojet Dyno. The new class will also use an Approved Equipment List, limiting competitors to racing parts permitted by the CSBK Series. All competitors will compete with spec Dunlop tires, as do all competitors on the Mopar CSBK tour.

The purpose of this structure is to limit costs and modifications, and place the National Series emphasis on rider talent and development. Various specific cycle parts, including engine control units, front suspension kits and rear shocks, will be mandated through the Approved Equipment List (AEL).

Details of the AEL will be released this fall, following discussions with suppliers.

The bikes expected to make up the grid for the new Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike category include the KTM 390 singles, Honda 250 and 300 CBR singles, Honda’s 500 twin, Yamaha’s 300cc R3 twin, and the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and 300 models. This category is established in some regions of Canada and the U.S.A., including Mopar Express Lane Lightweight at the RACE SuperSeries, as well as a similar division started in Europe in support of the World Superbike Championship this year.

“We are really encouraged by the interest shown in these smaller machines,” explained Fred Benjamin, Technical Director of CSBK. “We anticipate some teething issues with the new class, and some small adjustments might be required in the technical guidelines, but we think this category will produce some exciting racing and help develop the next generation of Canadian road racing talent.”

The new category’s structure will be based on the existing Kawasaki Ninja 300 spec Championship, as introduced at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2015. This category, for near-stock twin-cylinder Kawasaki street machines, has run with ten races per season over the past two years.

The Kawasaki will serve as the “index” bike for the class, establishing the relative parameters for the new rules prior to the start of the first season of Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike in 2018.

East coast ace Brandon Pemberton took the inaugural Kawasaki Ninja 300 spec National Title in 2016, and a new Champ will be crowned in the final events of the Kawasaki National Championship at C.T.M.P. on August 20.

Currently, the class limits for the Kawasaki Ninja 300 spec series include a minimum weight of 340 pounds measured with all remaining fluids immediately post race, and a maximum output of 38 horsepower as measure on the Dynojet Dyno at each venue post race. Officials anticipate some tweaking of the Technical Guidelines will be required during the early events with the new National category.

To be totally honest, my first track day of 2016 started out as a complete disappointment. I arrived at Castrol Raceway's road course confident and ready to ride, having just successfully completed Justin Knapik's On Track Performance Race School less than 24 hours earlier. In seemingly no time at all, my intermediate group received a five-minute warning, and in the time that it takes to start your bike, put on your helmet and gloves and line up, I was out on the track.

There is nothing that can replace the one-of-a-kind adrenaline rush that accompanies pushing the limits of a modern motorcycle. Having accepted that the most appropriate setting in which to do so is in a controlled environment, I dedicated the 2016 season to the track. After investing time and resources into preparing the bike, accumulating gear and equipment, and completing a race school, the next step was all about getting seat time, and for me that means track days.

The premise of a track day is really simple. For a fee you get to take your bike out onto the track and put in as many laps as the allotted time or your personal stamina allows. This particular type of adventure starts when you register for the session. For those who have never participated in a track day, the cost may seem steep, as much as $250 for the day, depending on the track and organization putting on the event. However, the math is really quite simple. If you get pulled over doing 160 km/h on the street you will, after a mandatory court appearance, incur fines that could reach a thousand dollars or more, plus legal fees. Conversely, when you hit 160 km/h, 200 km/h or even faster on the track, you get an ear-to-ear smile.

The other thing that typically happens during the registration process is that you are asked about which group level you will be riding in, usually described as novice, intermediate or expert. Some organizations provide very specific criteria while others leave it to you to assess. Basic rule of thumb is to be honest. If you are new to the track and have never completed a high performance on track school, you need to be in the novice group. At the same time if you are an expert level racer with black number plates on your bike, lapping in anything other than the expert group will quickly become a frustrating experience.

Upon arriving at the track it is time to focus on unloading and setting up your bike, gear and equipment. For those of us who transport our bikes in the back of a pickup truck, unloading and loading can be a challenge. The good news is that motorcyclists being motorcyclists, there are always multiple people ready and offering to help. If it is your first track day or a new track, one piece of advice is to ask for a pit area close by the organizer's tent or booth, and let them know. Their business model is built around you becoming a repeat customer, so they will definitely want you nearby where they can make sure you are having a good time and finding everything you need.

Once you are setup and have signed in, the next item on the agenda is the rider's meeting. This is the time when the organizers will welcome you, tell you what to expect during the day, review current track conditions and cover procedures and safety protocols. It doesn't matter where you are or how much experience you have, these meetings are not only mandatory but they are important. Not every group or track has the same rules, and something as universal as a red flag can have different implications for riders on the track at the time of the incident.

With all of the formalities out of the way, take some time to walk around the pit area to say hi to old friends and make some new ones. Then head back to your pit, get into your riding gear and warm up your bike. Before you know it they will be calling your group and it will be your turn to head out in the track, which is where we will pick up next time.

Shannonville, ON (july 2, 2016)- The weather was perfect for this weekend's Canada Weekend and the celebratory mood translated to some excellent racing on Shannonville Motorsports Park's short Nelson Circuit.

Yamaha’s very popular FZ-07 model has seen great success since its release to Canadian markets in 2015. The top-selling 689 cc parallel twin is a “versatile naked roadster (that) offers deep engine torque and a comfortable riding position in a lightweight, easy to handle sports chassis. It’s the perfect machine for both new and experienced riders alike who are looking for outstanding value.”

However, there are some in the motorcycle industry who believe the FZ-07 is capable of much more, and that it can also succeed as a competitive racetrack tool. Out to prove just that, VOS MOTORS, Yamaha’s five-star dealership in Concord, Ontario, has initiated a project, teamed with Yamaha Motor Canada and Acme Motorsports’ expert race bike builder/pro road racer, Craig Atkinson.

A 2016 Yamaha FZ-07 is now being prepared for competition at popular Ontario road racing events (RACE Superseries and SOAR). When completed, Atkinson will be riding the bike in several racing categories, including BOTT (Twins), Open Sprint, Masters, and several Supersport categories.

Craig Atkinson, Acme Motorsports: “It’s our overall goal to demonstrate that, aside from being a great street motorcycle, the FZ-07 is also extremely capable of competing at the racetrack, especially in the Twins classes. Owners of this bike can very easily enjoy high performance riding with minimal mechanical work, on a very affordable budget. I’m very excited about the program and I must thank VOS Motors and Yamaha Motor Canada for including me in this great opportunity!”

Matt Filion, Yamaha Motor Canada: “It’s great that passionate racers see the potential of the FZ-07 for more than its initial usage. The engine is the perfect platform for a middle weight race machine and with some minor chassis modifications you can have an inexpensive race bike. Yamaha is proud to be part of this project.”

A general information packet is available for anyone interested in learning more about how to take an FZ-07 to the track.